Signature gathering machine



1946- P. E. KLE INEBERG 2,413,358

SIGNATURE GATHERING MACHINE Filed April 11, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 rINVENTOR: f 3. Wm%

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SIGNATURE GATHERING MACHINE Paul E. Kleineberg, Easton, Pa., assignor toT. W. & C. B. Sheridan Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of NewYork Application April 11, 1944, Serial No. 530,451

29 Claims.

This invention relates to signature gathering machines, the purpose ofwhich is to extract signatures from each of a series of stacks andtransfer and discharge them to a traveling conveyor whereon thesuccessive signatures are received and grouped during travel foreventual delivery as a procession of signature groups adapted to besuitably bound or stapled. In a specific aspect the invention relates tothe so-called insert gathering, wherein the traveling conveyor is in thenature of a saddle, and each signature during transfer is opened fordelivery straddlewise upon the saddle. The invention has referenceparticularly to the extracting of the signatures from each stack, theirtransfer from the extraction points to the discharge point, and theiropening for delivery upon the saddle.

What is believed to be the nearest prior art may be recited as follows.Patent of Kleineberg et al. No. 2,163,732 granted June 27, 1939, showsan insert gathering machine wherein in the stack each signature is firstgripped at one edge and partly retracted in one direction or downwardly,then separated at its other edge from the stack, gripped and extractedupwardly, by a continuously rotating drum, and transferred thence to thedischarge point and there opened for deposit on the traveling saddle.While said machine affords a high speed of operation and output itpossesses certain disadvantages, as recited in the specification ofKleineberg Patent No. 2,251,943, granted August 12, 1941. In said lastmentioned patent each signature is gripped by a gripper on the drum andextracted completely from the stack and carried around to the transferPoint where it is released and pauses until a continuously rotatingtransfer member engages the pausing signature and pulls it reverselyaway from the drum for discharge upon the traveling conveyor. Thepresent invention utilizes this principle but in an improved embodimentinvolving new and supplemental principles of operation and structure.

The principal object of the present invention is to retain theadvantages of the machines of the prior patents while obviating orminimizing their disadvantages; and to provide a machine reliablyoperable on large or small signatures, at a satisfactory rate of output,and substantially free of separating and registering difficulties. Afurther object is to simplify and speed up the motions of each signaturebetween each of the stacks and the saddle or other conveyor upon whichthe signatures are grouped. A further object is to provide means foropening and discharging so-called lap signatures in a rapid and reliablemanner.

A special object is to overcome a drawback existing in the mechanism ofsaid Patent No. 2,251,943 in that the transfer means thereof has anunduly low position, specifically being located under the rotating drumand thus requiring the conveyor or travelling saddle to be located muchlower than the stack or supply of signatures; this being a matter ofinconvenience owing to the practical desirability of arranging the stackat a convenient level above the floor for manual loading purposes andalso having the conveyor at a substantially equivalent level forcontinued travel of the procession of gathered signature groups to thenext unit of the apparatus, typically represented by a wire stitching rstapling machine for uniting each group into a pamphlet; in other wordsthe conveyor should not be too low, whereas the stack should not be toohigh above the bindery floor. In said Patent No. 2,163,732 both thestack and the conveyor are at convenient levels, whereas the recitedadvantages secured by said Patent No. 2,251,943, including improvedspeed and reliability, were attained at the sacrifice of the firstmentioned advantage; and the aforesaid special object of the presentinvention is to retain the desirable features of both. By having boththe supply stacks and the outgoing conveyor at convenient levels, thehuman factors are materially improved, and all parts of the operationsare in better situation for access and to be observed, adjusted andrepaired, while the loaders may work safely from the floor in supplyingthe hoppers, and the stream of gathered groups issues from the gatheringmachine at the best elevation for undergoing the next step in themanufacture of pamphlets.

Other specific objects have to do with the manner and means of engagingand removing each paused signature from the drum, for transfer todischarge; particularly by minimizing the rubbing, during transfer, ofeach signature upon the next following signature, such as occurs in saidPatent 2,251,943; and further by facilitating the engaging or grippingby the transfer means or cylinder of the second or tail edge of each ofthe successive signatures for the purpose of removing the same from thedrum and transferring it away toward the discharge point. Furtherobjects and advantages will be explained in the hereinafter followingdescription of an illustrative embodiment of the invention or will beunderstood by those conversant with the subject. To the attainment ofsuch objects and advantages the present invention consists in the novelsignature gathering machine, especially as to the means of extracting,transferring and opening of signatures, and the novel features ofoperation, combination, arrangement and structure herein illustrated ordescribed.

In the accompanying drawings,

Fig. 1 is what may be considered a left end elevational view of asignature gathering machine embodying the principles of the presentinvention, certain longitudinal members being shown in section, and themechanism which is shown for a single stack to be understood as repeatedfor the several stacks of the machine.

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic detached edge view of a single signature, shownconventionally as a lap signature and having its closed edge or headdownward and its narrower or non-lap half rearward, as with thesignatures in the stack of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a left hand elevation showing in larger scale a signature stopdevice not clearly seen in Fig. 1.

Figs. 4, and 6 are detail views of the transfer cylinder shown inFig. 1. Fig. 4 is a left end elevational view of the active portion ofone of such transfer cylinders, shown in a position beyond or subsequentto the position shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a front elevation of thetransfer cylinder shown in Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a left end view, like thatof Fig. 4, but with the parts in a subsequent position.

Figs. 7 to are detail views of a modified form of transfer cylinder;Fig. '7 being a left elevation, Fig. 8 a front elevation, Fig. 9 a leftelevation with the cylinder in a different position; said Figures 7, 8and 9 corresponding in position with Figs. 4, 5 and 6 respectively. Fig.10 is a bottom view of the modified cylinder in the position shown inFigs. '7 and 8.

To refer first to certain of the main mechanical parts, an importantelement is the extractor means adjacent to each hopper, and thiscomprises a continuously rotatable drum 26 with a gripper, or a set ofgrippers 30, operable to grip each signature S by its first or closedback edge s and pull it completely out of the stack, and thence carry itaround on the drum beyond the transfer point 62 of the drum, to releaseit at or slightly in advance of a pausing position wherein its second,last-emerged or openable edge s occupies an accurately predeterminedposition near the aforesaid transfer point of the drum, the signaturepausing thus while the drum and open gripper continue rotation foroperation on another or the next signature. Another element is asuitable signature guide means, such as a fixed guide plate 55, or aseries of idler rolls, spaced outwardly of the drum, for confining aportion of the length of each released signature adjacent to the drumwhile the signature is pausing briefly thereon awaiting transferCooperating with these elements is a continuously rotatable transfercylinder 60 which is located adjacent to the drum and. near its transferpoint, and havin a gripper B3 operable to grip each pausing signature byits accurately positioned second or openable tail edge, and pull itreversely away from its pausing position on the drum and thence aroundfor downward discharge upon the gathering conveyor or saddle 20. Theconveyor being shown of the saddle type an opening device IOU isprovided having means operable to engage the outer half 8 of eachsignature advancing on the cylinder, to divert it away from the innerhalf s for opening during discharge of the signature upon the saddle. Afurther important element is a signature positioning means or stopmember 43, cooperating with the drum and gripper, and preferably presetin a fixed position, determined in accordance with the width ofsignature, and comprising a notched member 43 operating to stop thefirst or closed edge s of each released signature at or slightly beyondthe release point so that the opposite or second edge s of the signaturewill rest in registered position suitable for gripping and transfer withgreat accuracy as is necessary for performing reliably the delicatesignature opening operation during transfer and discharge. Other andsubordinate elements, and the general cooperation and mode of action ofall elements will be herein described; and details not herein fullydisclosed such as the signature stack mechanism, can be ascertained fromthe disclosures of said prior patents. While said prior patents eachdiscloses broadly an extractor drum, a signature guide plate, a stop orregistering member, a transfer cylinder and an opening device, thepresent invention involves modified elements and new relations andcooperations in a reorganized combination.

What was above described as the first or closed edge s of each extractedsignature may be considered as its leading edge or head, between theextraction and transfer points; and the openable second edge 8 as thetrailing edge or tail of the signature; a reversal taking place whentransfer from the drum begins, the signature being engaged by its tailor trailing edge and so pulled away from the drum to the discharge uponthe conveyor.

Referring to Fig. 1, the signatures S are shown stacked in edgewiseposture with their closed edges 5 downward. They preferably are lapsignatures and, as separately shown in Fig. 2, the narrow half s of eachsignature is rearward, while the wide or lap half s is frontward, withits lap or width extension 5 upstanding beyond the rear half of thesignature. A lap signature may have its entire lap half wider than theother half, or only the innermost sheet thereof. When about to be openedthe operation provides an angular gap or recess s between the freemargins of the two halves of the signature, as shown in Figs. 6 and 9,at the openable tail edge The machine comprises a conventional frame,including the upright frame members or cross walls l0 and variousextensions and brackets. At the upper rear, being the left side of Fig.1, is shown a shelf ll upon which signature supplies may be restedawaiting introduction into the respective hoppers.

Each hopper may be of various known kinds. For example it may bearranged for the signatures to rest slantingly on their edges. Thehopper may have any suitable bottom, such as one including feed beltsl2, above which are side pieces or hopper walls 13, and above theseother side walls [4, which may be spaced suitably to cause the bowing ofthe bulk of the signatures standing edgewise therebetween. At the fronteach hopper has an abutment or wall I5 and a similar upper abutment 16,against which the first or front signature bears.

To mention next the conveyor on which the gathered signatures areaccumulated into groups, this conveyor, for an insert gatherer, is shownas preceded by a fixed upper receiver or saddle IQ for each hopper,located to receive each discharged signature before it is slid alongtherefrom to the main or traveling conveyor or saddle 20, the latterhaving lateral wings 2| which operate first to thrust each signaturefrom the upper to the lower saddle, and then to push along eachsignature group resting on the main traveling saddle. Between eachsignature stack and the corresponding discharge point are arranged themeans for detaching and then extracting each signature from its stack,transferring it to the discharg point and there opening it for dischargeupon the saddle.

To assist reliable gripping and extracting, each hopper is provided withsignature detachers 24 each in the conventional form of a suction cup ona swingable lever, mounted for example below the abutment [5, one ateach side of each hopper, in such position as not to conflict with therotation of the extractor to be described. Conventional driving meansand connections are to be understood, and these in the case of thedetacher 24 will cause the timed outswinging and return movementsthereof, and the application and release of suction therefrom. Thecontinuously rotating drums and cylinders to be described may allreceive their drive from a main longitudinal shaft by suitable gearingsuch as that indicated in Patent No. 2,163,732, the main shaft usuallymaking one turn per cycle or extraction. The drums and cylinders may beof skeleton structure, as usual, with spaced apart peripheral surfacesor rim parts.

For each signature stack the extractor comprises a continuouslyrotatable member or gripper carrier, herein termed a drum 26, theseveral drums being mounted on a common shaft 21. Near its periphery thedrum carries a gripper seat 29, for each gripper member 30 of a set oftwo or more, such member being shown in the conven-- tional form of aswinging jaw or finger. In designating the gripper members 29 and 30 asa seat and a jaw, the latter being operatively movable on the drum, itis to be understood that the seat, shown as a non-swinging member, isnot necessarily fixed on the drum. Instead of providing but a singlegripper set on each drum 26, the plan is followed of providing aplurality of gripper sets, namely two gripper sets, oppositely locatedon the drum as shown, the drum for this purpose having an enlarged ordouble diameter and circumference and its shaft 21 being driven to makeonly one turn for each two complete cycles of the machine.

The continuously rotary extractor drum 26 has at least one set ofmovable grippers 30, the grippers or jaws of each set being mounted on alongitudinal shaft 3|, understood to be under the stress of a spring,not shown, acting to close each jaw 30 upon its seat 29 with sufficientforce to grip and pull out of the hopper each signature; and theactuation may be analogous to that of the drum grippers in said PatentNo. 2,163,732,

For opening the grippers 30 of each set against the resilient closingforce, a pinion on the gripper shaft 3| is engaged by a segment gear 32swinging upon a stud or axle 33 mounted on the drum; and the segmentgear has mounted upon it a follower or roller 34 which, as the drumrotates, passes around the periphery of a fixed cam controllin theopening and closing. Said cam comprises a first cam part 35 and acomplementary cam part 36, made separate for purposes to be described.The cam part 35 is secured permanently in a fixed position and has aslanting portion or cam drop 31 which allows the roller 34 to moveinwardly, thus causing the spring-closing of the gripper 30. The gripperthus closes against its seat 29, with such timing that the detachedsignature lower or closed edge 8, outswung by the detacher 24, isgripped between the gripper jaw and seat as the drum carries these pastthe extracting position, so that the continued rotation causes thesignature to be pulled out of the hopper by its first or closed edge.Subsequently the roller 34 of each gripper set travels around untilreaching the slant or rise 38 of the second cam part 36, this risethrusting outwardly the roller and thereby swingin open the gripper torelease the extracted signature, near the top of the drum in thearrangement shown in Fig. 1.

Thus each extractor or drum may be maintained in continuous rotation,each of its gripper sets engaging and extracting a signature, andpulling it completely out of the stack by an extracting motion whichcarries the signature around, first downwardly, and then around andupwardly to and beyond the transfer point of the drum, marked with astar 62, for release at the predetermined pausing position. In thisposition the second or openable edge of the signature occupies apredetermined transfer position relatively high at the front side of thedrum as compared with prior Patent No. 2,251,943, namely, in aregistered position substantially near or even slightly above the levelof the rotation axis of the drum, as is the transfer point 62, fortransfer in the manner to be described.

Owing to differences inv widths of signatures to be gathered it isdesirable to alter the pausing position of the released signatures, andit is for this reason that the gripper cam 35, 36 is made in two parts,the part 35 being fixed including slant 31, but the part 36 beingrelatively adjustable, including slant 38, to change the point ofgripper opening or release without changing the point of gripperclosing. There is for these purposes shown a block or carrier 40 havinga hub loosely surrounding the shaft 21 and formed with slots throughwhich extend bolts 4| attaching the cam part 36 to the block. Thus thecam part 36 may be initially secured adjustably to the block 40, andthereafter the cam part 36 may be readily adjusted by swinging the blockthereby to change the gripper opening or release point in each drumrotation.

The swingable block 40 has a radial arm 42 by which it may be adjusted,and this arm, be-- yond the drum periphery, has a longitudinal stud orrod 44 serving as a support for mounting a stop 43 and other parts.

A signature registering or stop member 43 formed preferably with a notchto receive the closed leading edge s of each signature, as shownenlarged in Fig. 3, is arranged in the path of the signatures advancingaround the circumference of the drum, and so located that each advancingsignature, immediately after its release by the gripper, caused by theslant 38 of cam part 36, comes up against the stop, and is there broughtto a pause in its predetermined position as already described. Thenotcher stop 43 is shown mounted upon the rod or stud 44 provided in theradial extension of the swingable block 40, so that a single swingingadjustment about the drum axis simultaneously sets the stop according tothe width of the signature and sets the cam to open the gripper slightlybut safely before the signature reaches the stop.

For convenience of adjustment to adapt the machine to a given width ofsignature the block 40 and arm 42 are shown as having an extension orhandle 46 readily accessible at the front of the machine. Thisadjustment may be made by placing a signature of the intended width inthe desired position with its trailing edge at the transfer point,swinging the handle 46 to set the stop notch 43 to the signature, whichat the same time properly sets the cam 36 and the release point of thegripper, and then securing the handle and block 40 in such position, asby a set screw or bolt 41 passing through the handle 46 and through theconcentric slot 48 of an arouate member or segment 49. Said segment isshown mounted fixedly in position upon abutment l6 and the upper one ofa pair of frame rods 50, which are longitudinal rods extending thelength of the machine between two or more upper frame walls supportedupon the under frame H1.

On account of the unavoidable lag between the release by the gripper ofeach signatur and the contact of the latter with the stop 43, anauxiliary feed device to insure that the signature will continue totravel to the stop, and remain there until transfer, is provided in theform of a small roll or idler 52 positioned adjacent to the releasepoint. Said idler is operated to press resiliently the releasedsignature against the drum, so that the continued rotation of the drumitself, by friction, insures the non-positive feeding of the signatureto the stop. The idler roll 52 is shown carried on a spring-pressedlever 53 swingable on the stud 44 and acting to thrust the roll towardthe drum.

Every signature therefore, in its extracting motion on the drum 26, iscaused to travel as described, downwardly past the drum low point, andthence upwardly and around for accurate stoppage with its closed edge sin contact with the stop 43, and thus registered so that its second oropenable edge assumes an exact position at the front side of the drum inFig. 1 ready for cooperation with the transfer cylinder, The leading orclosed edge s pauses at the set stop 43 while the trailing or openableedge 3 pauses at the high level transfer point 62, marked with a starwhereat the transfer means comes into play to manipulate in a novelmanner the trailing or tail edge and draw the signature away from thedrum and pull it reversely around, tail first, upwardly, frontwardly anddownwardly for dis charge.

There is shown a desirable means, in the form of a guide plate 55, forconfining each released signature adjacent to the extractor drumperiphery while pausing briefly between extraction and transferoperations. The guide 55 is shown as a plate or strips fixedly mountedupon brackets 56 extending rearwardly from the frame rod 56. Thisconfiner plate -55 is spaced slightly away from the drum so that thefirst part of each signature may be enclosed loosely between the plateand drum, and preferably with a sufficient spacing or clearance that twosignatures may pass by each other therein; in other words While onesignature is being reversely drawn away by its tail or open edge fromits stopped position for transfer and discharge, the next succeedingsignature under extraction may be entering the space between the drumand the rest as it is pulled by the gripper toward its pausing position.The guide plate 55 however may in some cases be dispensed with asunnecessary when the transfer action is begun promptly, as hereindisclosed; or the signatures may be held otherwise to the drum as byrollers or an air blast.

Referring next to the transfer member or cylinder 60 this is shownmounted by its hub 59, Fig. 5, upon a shaft 6|, which may be elongatedand carry the entire series of transfer cylinders of the machine. Thisshaft and each cylinder 60 are arranged to rotate continuously, adjacentto the periphery of the drum 26, but, contrary to said Patent 2,251,943,the cylinder hereof is caused to rotate clockwise or oppositely to thecounterclockwise rotation of the drum 26, as seen in left elevation.Also, the transfer cylinder is located horizontally adjacent to thedrum, that is, with its axis at approximately thesame elevation as thatof the drum. The transfer point 62 of the drum is with this invention atapproximately the elevation of the two axes, and adjacent thereto theperipheries of both drum and cylinder travel upwardly with a novelcoaction to be explained.

The transfer cylinder shaft 6! may be geared to the main drive shaft ofthe machine in such ri'ianner as for example to make one turn per-cycle,the cylinder 60 being practically of half the diameter of the drum 26,and there being suitable reduction gearing (not shown) to the drum shaft21, so that the drum turns at only half the rotary speed of thecylinder, or one turn for each two cycles, the drum handling twosignatures per turn, or one signature per cycle, and the transfercylinder transferring away from the drum one signature per cycle. Theplan of an enlarged drum handling two (or three or more) signatures perturn was disclosed in each of said prior patents, which may be referredto for a form of gearing suitable for the purpose.

The operation of the rotating transfer cylinder 60 includes the grippingof the openable edge of each released signature resting near thetransfer point 62 and pulling the signature reversely, away from thedrum. For this purpose there is shown a main gripper (or set ofgrippers) 63 mounted on a gripper rockshaft 64 and cooperating with agripper seat 65 with which preferably cooperates also a second or lapgripper or jaw 66 shorter than the main gripper jaw 63; this gripperassembly, comprising the seat and the two gripper or jaws having hereina special arrangement and action as is illustrated and will be furtherdescribed. By these means the transfer cylinder takes part both in thetransfer of each signature away from the drum and in the later openingof each lap signature for its final discharge downwardly upon theconveyor or saddle. For this purpose both movable gripper jaws 63 and 66may hold the openable edge of each signature against the seat 65, asseen in Figs. 1, 4 and 5, until, when near the delivery point, the maingripper 63 releases the non-lap half 3' of the signature, whichthereupon naturally separates away from the lap s as seen in Figs. 6 and9, forming a recess s between the two halves and permitting the Openingdevice I00 or its gripper jaw to enter the recess and engage the non-laphalf of the signature and open it away from the lap half as the sigature, during downward discharge, approaches the underneath conveyor orsaddle.

The structural details of the transfer cylinder may be described asfollows. The short or lap gripper 66 extends from a collar 6'! which isloose on the rockshaft 64 upon which the hub 68 of each main gripper 63is secured. The actuation of the long or main gripper 63 is effected byan arm 69 extending from its hub 68. A strong spring 10 pulls constantlyon the free end of the extension arm in a direction to close the gripperjaw 63. For opening the main gripper 63 against the pull of the spring10 the arm 69 is provided with a follower or roll H, and this followerruns on the periphery of a fixed cam 12, the outline of which is seen inFigs. 1, 4 and 6. The cam has a drop or inslant a permitting the maingripper to take its closed position as shown in Figs. 1 and 4. A laterrise or outslant b causes the main gripper to retract from the seat, forexample to the position shown in Fig. 6, thus to release the non-laphalf s of the signature, permitting it, by the elasticity of the paper,to swing away to the position shown, separated from the lap half 3 ofthe signature. An additional rise or outslant c is operative to swingoutwardly still further the main gripper and at the same time to causethe opening of the lap gripper, as will be described, as the signatureis finally discharged for deposit upon the saddle 19; the opening deviceI in the meanwhile having engaged the non-lap half, separated it awayfrom the lap half and released it with the final discharge of thesignature.

For the coordinated operation of the main and lap gripper jaws 63 and 66the following mechanism is both accurate and reliable in action and atthe same time compact and simple in structure. The operative movementsof both grippers are herein performed from the same fixed cam 12 throughthe same follower H and arm 69, by the following arrangement. Arelatively light compression spring 14 is interposed between the longmain gripper 53 and the short lap gripper 66, being a convenient meanstending always to close the lap gripper upon the seat 65. When bothgrippers are closed on the seat, as seen in Figs. 1 and 4, the spring 14may become completely compressed, so that a substantially positivepressure is applied through the main gripper and the spring to the lapgripper, the two grippers thus holding the signature securely upon theseat, the follower H at this time having travelled along the dropsurface a of the fixed cam. With furtherrotation of the transfercylinder in each cycle the cam rise b takes effect through follower H toretract the main gripper 63 from the seat asshown in Fig. 6, thusreleasing the non-lap half of the signature but leaving the lap gripperholding the signature lap s by the pressure of the spring 74, thiscondition continuing until the signature has been widely opened and isabout to be discharged downwardly upon the saddle; this occurringsomewhat beyond the Fig. 6 position.

At this time the second rise 0 of the fixed cam 12 comes into effect toswing away still further the main gripper 66, this further opening ofthe gripper erving no function but being accompanied by the cooperationof the parts to cause the swinging retraction of the lap gripper for thefinal complete release of the signature. This action is attained by aninterconnection between the main gripper or its connected parts, thefollower H and arm 69, and the lap gripper. A convenient mechanicalarrangement for this purpose comprises a projection or lug 15outstanding from the hub 68 of the main gripper and cooperating with asimilar lug or projection 16 from the loose collar of the lap gripper,with a lost-motion gap between the lugs. When the main gripper has beenpartly swung away from its seat, as shown in Fig. 6, by the rise b ofcam #2 this also brings the lugs 15 and 16 into operative contact, thelug 15 coming into abutment with the lug 16, so that during the lateroperation by the cam rise 0, accompanying the further retraction of themain gripper 63, the lug 1'5 thrusts upon and displaces the lug 16,thereby rocking the collar 61 of the lap gripper 66 and causing the lapgripper to swing away from its seat by a positive mechanical or camaction overcoming the closing spring 14. Thus the fixed cam 12 causes ineach cycle the closing of both transfer grippers and next the retractionand opening of the main gripper and then also the lap gripper.

To facilitate the shift and control of each signature from the drum tothe transfer cylinder it is desirable to provide supplementary meansadapted to cause the outswinging of the positioned tail or trailingportion of the signature while momentarily at rest on the drum in orderthat the gripper seat of the rotating cylinder may rise and enterbetween the signature edge and the drum before the cylinder gripper jawcloses on the signature edge. While this might be done by a blast ofair, there is shown a mechanical device to flick or flip the signaturetail outwardly, that is, frontwardly, to swing across the interveningspace near the transfer point 62. The signature thus takes a position,shown in Fig, 1, in which its lower portion stands out tangently fromthe drum periphery and its tail edge enters into an intersecting orsubstantially radial position within the recessed periphery of thecylinder. The cylinder seat can thus advance upwardly behind or belowthe outswung signature edge, and the cylinder grippers can take theirgripping position against the signature edge thus engaged upon the seat.

The flippin device 80 is shown as comprising a set of fly fingers orlight levers which are carried on extensions 19 of levers 18, suchlevers being fixed upon a rocking shaft 8| mounted on a fixed bracket 82standing frontwardly from the hopper front abutment [5, the axis ofswing of the fly fingers or flippers being preferably within theperipheral outline of the drum as shown. The fiipping device 80 is shownin Fig. 1 in its advanced or outswung position, and in dotted lines inits normal or retracted position. This swinging motion and return musttake place once for each signature, and since the drum is of doublesize, carrying two signatures in each rotation, it is necessary tooperate the flipping device twice for each turn of the drum. To efiectthis operation there is shown, mounted on the rotary drum shaft 21, acam 83 which is formed with two lobes or high parts 84 each adapted toact upon a follower 85 mounted upon the flipping device or the rockshaft8| carrying the same.

Reviewing the general operation, each signature in turn is extractedfrom the stack, preferably by the carrier drum itself, and this drumcarries the signature around and frontwardly from the stack to a releaseposition wherein the closed edge of the signature is near or beyond thetop of the drum, the signature being brought to a definite stoppedposition, pausing or restin at the front side of the drum with itstrailing edge approximately at the transfer point 62. At this pausinginstant the flipper device 80, having already started frontward, comesinto play, swinging frontwardly the tail edge of the signature into thepath of the ascending seat 65 of the rotating transfer cylinder, which,like the drum, may be of skeleton construction. This seat comes upbehind the signature edge, between it and the drum, and. the main andlap grippers, by short motions wholly inside the cylinder periphery,close upon the seat thus gripping respectively the whole thickness ofthe signature and its lap half, as seen in Figs. 1

and 4. By the continuance of rotation the si nature is drawn by its tailedge upwardly and away with a whipping motion which strips the signatureaway from the drum. During this motion the signature edge becomes bentat approximately right angles, about the radial seat and the cylinderperiphery, putting the material under a flexing strain, ready to springback upon release. The signature as so gripped thereupon becomestransferred upwardly, frontwardly and downwardly by its openable edge.Slightly in advance of the opening action, the main gripper 63 isretracted by the rise b of cam I2, so that the edge of the non-lap halfof the signature separates away from the other half, as in Fig. 9, intime for the opening device to engage and grip the released half. Thetwo signature halves thereupon continue their advance downwardly whilebeing spread apart and opened divergingly by reason of their travel uponthe rotary cylinders 60 and I00. Finally the transfer and openercylinders release entirely the signature which is thus dischargeddownwardly to settle or deposit upon the saddle I9.

The opening device I is shown as a rotary member or cylinder turningupon a driven shaft IOI and arranged afront the transfer cylinder, thetwo cylinders each making one turn per cycle, in opposite rotarydirections. To engage the edge of the released half of each signature,the opener I00 is provided with a gripper or jaw I02, understood to beclosed by a spring, and turning upon a pivot I03 so that the gripper orjaw may move to or from the outer surface of a gripper seat I04. Thesegripper motions may be effected by a gripper extension carrying afollower or roll I05 which rides upon the periphery of a fixed cam I06having a drop or inslant I01 for causing the closing of the gripper anda rise or outslant I08 for causing the final opening of the gripper withthe discharge of the signature.

To ensure continued advancing travel of each signature after it has beenpartially or wholly released from the transfer and opener cylinders thermay be provided an idler roll I I0 carried on a swingable arm III andbearing lightly, as by spring pressure, upon the periphery of thetransfer cylinder. This roll operates to press the signature against thecylinder, producing friction and ensuring the continued travel of thesignature until its discharge may be completed by momentum and gravity.On account of the recessed periphery of the cylinder, a stop [I2 isplaced to prevent overswing of arm III, and a spring H3 provides lightpressure holding the roll yieldingly upon the cylinder and the signaturetraveling therewith.

The signature gathering machine thus described is capable of high speedof output since substantially all parts between the stack and the vdischarge are continuously rotary; the only ex ceptions being a fewswinging parts which are light and with small motions not impairing thespeed, including the signature detaching device 24, the several sets ofgripper jaws and the flylevers or flipping fingers 80'. The importantobject of arranging the stack hoppers and the conveyor for the signaturegroups at convenient levels or elevations above the floor is attainedbecause of the high elevation of the carrier drum with relation to thestacks and the arrangement of the transfer means not beneath but afrontthe drum with the axis thereof approximately at the axis level of thedrum, so that, even with downwa d discharge following transfer there isno undue drop in signatur level, and the stacks and conveyor may bearranged with maximum convenience, which is aided by the small diameterof the transfer cylinder and the opener cylinder beyond when used. Inone aspect the invention comprises the entire combination including thestack hoppers, the conveyor and the several elements between them.Certain subcombination features however have value aside from thecomplete combination, notably the cooperating carrier drum and transfercylinder, their adaptation to each other, and their cooperative action,whatever be the manner of stacking of signatures, extraction ofsignatures from stacks or the accumulating of signature groups upon aconveyor.

In the cooperation of the carrier drum and the transfer cylinder, thelatter may be described as arranged afront the former and therefore at arelatively high elevation. The drum is constructed to releas eachsignature at the transfer point, with its trailing or openable edge atsubstantially axis elevation; the transfer cylinder being constructed toengage and grip such trailing edge at this high point, drawing eachsignature away from the drum and thence upwardly, frontwardly anddownwardly toward the discharge; the transition from drum to cylinderbeing assisted by a suitable means to swing outwardly the trailing edge,such as the illustrated fiy-fingers adapted to flip the signature tailedge across for engagement and forwarding by the transfer cylinder.

The described operations are possible because of various points ofdifference over Patent 2,251,943, e. g., that with the present inventionthe transfer cylinder rotates oppositely to the drum, whereby thecylinder, afront the drum, may transfer each signature with an upward,'frontward and then downward travel, enhancing th aim of high level forthe conveyor.

Another point is the herein disclosed transfer gripper construction andarrangement; the swinging grippers being small and with a short swing orshift, wholly within the peripheral contour of the cylinder and withoutprotrusion at any time as with conventional grippers. The gripper seatis substantially radial so that the jaw comes to the seat with a motionsubstantially tangent, that is, about at right angles to the plane orsurface of the pausing signature. This affords reliable accuracy inengaging the signature edge, especially important with lap signatures,and takes care of irregularities due to variation of signature structureor position or of gripper action, or other causes, in a way not possiblewith grippers that close in a direction substantially that Of thesignature width or at a low incline to the seat, such as the grippers 30of the drum 26.

By these arrangements the practice is made possible of bringing thetransfer cylinder gripper seat upwardly to enter the space between thedrum and the signature, ascending behind the wide or lap surface of thetrailing edge of the signature, while the cooperating swinging jaw orjaws move toward the outer or non-lap face of the signature inapproaching the seat; the fly-lever device or other means havingcooperated by swinging outwardly the openable or trailing edge of thesignature to admit the transfer gripper seat behind or below suchtrailing edge. It is this arrangement which permits both the transferseat and jaw to be arranged wholly within the periphery of the cylinder,requiring only a short closing and opening motion, at about right anglesto the seat and signature, as distinguished from the conventional longexterior swing of grippers overreaching the cylinder periphery in comingto seat.

These features are especially advantageous with the use of lapsignatures to be opened up for discharge upon a traveling saddle, thetransfer cylinder having the main or non-lap gripper and the shorter lapgripper operated cooperatively with respect to the same gripper seat.The action is reliably accurate and may even permit the use ofsignatures with a narrower lap, thus saving paper. The described gripperjaw movement, at substantially 90 to the seat and to the plane of thesignatures is the result of the disclosed or similar mounting of thejaws, each of which is pivoted radially inward of the seat, and indeedthe two jaws preferably swinging about the same axis, that of therockshaft 64, in their closing and opening movements.

After the grippers 63 and 66 have closed upon the signature edge asshown in Fig. 1, gripping the edge against the radial seat 65, thecontinuing rotation of the cylinder 60 carries the gripper parts andsignature edge around upwardly and frontwardly, the first effect ofwhich is that the signature is bent sharply, or at about right angles,as its body takes its peripheral position around the cylinder, as seenin Fig. 4; and this forced temporary flexing of the signature assists inits later opening, since the release of the main gripper allows theshort width of edge of the non-lap half to spring away from the seat andfrom the other half of the signature, thus making the extreme edge ofthe non-lap half especially accessible to the gripper I02 of the openercylinder I00, during the process of separating from each other the twohalves of the downwardly advancing signature, followed by the finaldischarge accompanied by the total release of the signature by theopening of the lap gripper 6B and the opening gripper I02, The featuresand mode of operation of the transfer cylinder, with its main and lapgrippers, is rendered simple and practical by the disclosed plan ofhaving the gripper opening cam 12 operate through the same follower Hand lever 69 to cause first the opening of the main gripper 63 and, withcontinued lever throw, to move further the main gripper and to open thelap gripper, these successive actions being produced respectively by theoutslants b and c of the fixed cam 12, the subsequent inslant a of whichallows both grippers to be restored by spring to position for grippingthe next signature.

Instead of a single fly device 80 mounted on a fixed bracket 82 as shownand worked by a rotary cam 83 on the drum shaft, the device might bemounted upon the drum itself, one set of fly fingers at each side of thedrum, and these worked by a single fixed cam analogous to the drumgripper cam 35. In either case the fly device or flipper means may besoactuated by its cam as to begin the swinging of the fingers and thesignature away from the drum slightly in advance of the instant that thereleased signature comes to a pause, so that the signature trailing edgemay reach safely its outswung transfer position in time for cooperationwith the gripper means on the transfer cylinder. In Fig.

1 the fly fingers 80 are shown in dotted lines in their retractedposition and in full lines in their outswung position. The signature Sis shown in dotted lines in its normal position upon the drum; and infull lines in its outswung position at S the result of the fly-fingeraction; and again in dotted lines in a further advanced position S whereit lies substantially tangent to both drum and cylinder, on its wayaround to the opening and discharge points.

In the modification shown in Figs. 7 to 10 means or cams are providedfor actuating and timing independently the long or main grippers 63 andthe short or lap grippers 66 These grippers are of modified structureand are carried upon a modified transfer cylinder mounted on the samelongitudinal shaft 6| as shown in Figs. 1 to 6, the cylinder being ofopen structure and having its hub 59 secured to the shaft.

Describing first the main gripper or gripper pair and the actuatingconnections thereof, these grippers are arranged to reach beyond the lapgrippers and to swing against the full thickness of the signature S orrather of the radial portion thereof which overlies the gripper seatsaid seat corresponding to that of Figs. 1 to 6. Each of the pair ofmain grippers 63 is shown as an elongated flat bar or thick strip, thefree end of which bears upon the seat 65 near the periphery of thetransfer cylinder. At their other or inner ends the two main grippersare connected fast to swing with a, gripper shaft [i l which extendslongitudinally through the cylinder and takes its bearing in the webportions of the cylinder. Upon each end of the gripper shaft 64* andrendered fast thereon by its hub 68* is a gripper carrying arm 69*,which is shown of bent form at its swinging end and has the main gripperattached to it. A strong spring Ill is provided tending to pull the maingripper toward its seat and thereby to pull the free end of the arm '59toward the axis of the cylinder; this at the same time holding a camfollower H shown as a roller mounted on the arm 69 against the peripheryof a fixed cam 12, shown in Figs. 8 and 10 and in dotted lines in Figs.'7 and 9.

In general, the main gripper connections thus described on Figs. '7 to10 are analogous to those shown in Figsfl to 6, excepting that the camactuation of the main gripper is independent of that of the lap gripperto be described, and therefore the main gripper operating cam (2 need beprovided only with a rising slant to open the gripper and a droppingslant to permit its closing by the spring 10, with dwells between theslants, as shown. The timing is preferably as previously described,requiring no supplemental description.

The lap gripper 66 is in this form separately actuated and independentlytimed as follows. This gripper as usual consists of a pair of swingablegripper jaws 66 shown as of fiat bar or strip construction as withgrippers 63 The two lap grippers are carried on a pair of levers 86 bothmounted on a. short hub or sleeve 6'1 which surrounds and turns looselyon the main gripper shaft 64 In this way the shanks of both lap grippersare accommodated between the webs of the transfer cylinder. The lapgrippers are shaped or bent in a flaring manner to overlie and cooperatewith the respective gripper seats 65 As the main gripper 63 is actuatedfrom a fixed cam l2 positioned exterior of the transfer cylinder at onelongitudinal side, namely the righthand side, so the lap grippers may beactuated from a fixed cam 93 exterior to the cylinder webs at theopposite or left side, as best seen in Figs. 8 and 10. The camconnections to actuate the main grippers pass through the gripper shaft64*, and since the sleeve or hub 6'! of the lap grippers turns looselyon the pp shaft I54 as a hearing it is necessary to carry the lapgripper actuating connections around or beyond the gripper shaft toreach the exterior cam 93. For this purpose each lap gripper carryinglever 86 is in reality a double arm, with the gripper attached at onearm or end, the other end being provided with a longitudinal rod 8!interconnecting the two levers 86 where they extend beyond the pivotshaft 64 This longitudinal rod 81 is shown extended leftward beyond thegripper arms and through a curved slot in the cylinder web thereby toreach an exterior point at which the control an actuation may beeffected. On the projecting left end of rod 81 is shown a collar 88 towhich is secured one end of an elongated tension spring 89, maintaininga stress tending to swing the gripper levers 8B and the two lap gripperstoward the gripper seats, and providing the gripping force to hold thesignatures. The extremity of the longitudinal rod 81 also carries oneend of an exterior gripper-operating cam lever 90, which also istwo-armed and pivots loosely upon the gripper shaft 64. One end of thecam lever connects with the rod 81 as stated, while the other armcarries a cam follower or roller 92 which bears upon the periphery ofthe fixed cam 93 which actuates the lap gripper.

The lap gripper actuating cam 93 may be simply designed with two dwellsbetween a timed outslant or rise and an inslant or drop, so that at onepart of each cycle the lap gripper is by the cam thrust away from theseat 65 and at another point is permitted to return under the pull ofthe restoring and holding sprin 89. The contour of the cam is seen inFigs. 7 and 9 and the parts actuated thereby are shown in two differentpositions, in Fig. 7 as in Fig. 1 with both grippers closed as transferfrom the drum starts,

and in Fig. 9 with the main gripper retracted for signature openingpurposes, to be followed by the opening action as in Fig. 6. The generalcycle of operations may be as previously described. The lap grippershould take its gripping position preferably at the same time the maingripper engages each signature, as in Fig. 7, or at least the lapgripper should take its gripping position upon the signature lap beforethe main gripper retracts for release of the non-lap half of thesignature, which occurs immediately in advance of the engagement of suchnon-lap half by the gripper of the opening device. The lap gripperremains in gripping position until the signature has been well openedand is about to be discharged upon the conveyor saddle, at which timeboth the opening gripper and the lap gripper are retracted or releasedfor the complete discharge of the signature.

What is claimed is:

1. In a signature gathering machine of the kind wherein signatures areextracted in succession from each of a series of stacks for transfer anddischarge upon an advancing gathering conveyor or saddle; incombination, afront each stack, a rotary signature-carrying drum havinga gripper operable to hold each extracted signature by one edge to carryit around frontwardly and there while disposed around the upper half ofthe drum circumference to release it to pause with one edge positionedat a predetermined front transfer point adjacent the level of the drumaxis, a stop means located to stop the released signature in suchpredetermined position, a rotary transfer cylinder arranged afront thedrum adjacent to such transfer point and having means operable to gripeach pausing signature by its positioned edge and pull it away from thedrum successively upwardly and thence over and around frontwardly anddownwardly and there release it for discharge upon the conveyor; anddrive means for continuously rotating said drum and said cylinder incoordination.

2. A gathering machine as in claim 1 and wherein are stack hoppers inwhich the signatures are stacked edgewise with their leadin .edgesdownward; and each carrier drum is adapted to extract directly eachsuccessive signature with downward motion and thence carry itsuccessively under and around frontwardly and upwardly to release andpausing position with its trailing edge at the transfer point; and thetransfer cylinder is adapted to engage each signature by its trailingedge and draw it upwardly and frontwardly to discharge.

3. In a signature gathering machine of the kind wherein signatures areextracted in succession from each of a series of stacks for transfer anddischarge upon an advancing gathering conveyor or saddle; incombination, afront each stack, a rotary signature-carrying drum havinga gripper operable to hold each extracted signature by its leading edgeto carry it successively under and around frontwardly and upwardly andthere to release it to pause with its trailing edge positioned at apredetermined front transfer point adjacent the level of the drum axis,means to maintain the released signature insuch predetermined pausingposition, a rotary transfer cylinder arranged afront the drum adjacentto such transfer point and having means operable to grip each pausingsignature by its positioned trailing edge and pull it away from the drumsuccessively upwardly and thence over and around frontwardly anddownwardly and there release it for discharge upon the conveyor; anddrive means for continuously rotating said drum and said cylinder incoordination in opposite rotary directions so that at said transferpoint the peripheries of both travel upwardly.

4. The combination as in claim 3 and wherein is means acting upon thetrailing edge or tail of each paused signature to swing or flip itfrontwardly away from the drum into position to be engaged by thegripping means of the cylinder.

5. An insert gathering machine of the kind wherein lap signatures areextracted in succession from each of a series of stacks for transfer anddischarge upon an advancing conveyor saddle; in combination, acontinuously rotary signature carrying drum afront each stack and havinga gripper operable to grip each extracted signature by one edge to carryit around frontwardly and there release it to pause with its openableedge at 'a predetermined transfer position at the drum axis level, meansto register the released signature in such predetermined pausingposition, a, continuously rotary transfer cylinder arranged afront thedrum adjacent to such transfer position and having means operable togrip each pausing signature by its positioned openable edge and pull itaway from the drum successively upwardly and thence around frontwardlyand downwardly for partial and then complete release and discharge, andan opener means afront the transfer cylinder and cooperable therewith toopen each discharging signature as it descends astride the conveyorsaddle.

.6. In an insert signature gathering machine having a series of hoppersfor containing stacks from which successive lap signatures may beextracted by their closed back edges for transfer, opening and dischargeupon a saddle; a continuously rotary extractor drum adjacently afronteach hopper comprising a gripper operable to grip each signature by itsclosed edge and to extract such signature completely from the stack andcarry it around frontwardly and release it in advance of a pausingposition with its openable edge near a transfer point locatedsubstantially at the drum axis level, a signature registering stoparranged in the path of the signatures advancing on the drum and locatedbeyond the release point to stop the closed edge of each releasedsignature thereby to register accurately the sig nature pausing on thedrum so that its openable edge will occupy a predetermined position nearthe transfer point of the drum, a continuously rotary transfer member orcylinder located adjacently afront the drum with its axis substantiallyat the drum axis level, and having means to enage or grip each pausingsignature by its positioned openable edge and pull it reversely awayfrom the drum and transfer it thence frontwardly away for downwarddischarge, and opening means cooperating with the transfer cylinder toopen each signature as it is discharged downwardly upon the saddle.

7. In a signature gathering machine of the kind described and interposedbetween each of the series of signature supply stacks and the advancingconveyor which receives the accumulating signature groups, thesubcombination comprising: a continuously rotary drum having grippermeans and operable to carry each of a succession of extracted signaturesaround frontwardly and there while disposed around the upper portion ofthe drum circumference to release the same at a predetermined pausingposition with one edge at a transfer point near or above the drum axislevel, means to register the released signature in such predeterminedpausing position, and in front of the drum a continuously rotarytransfer cylinder having gripper means and operable to engage eachpausing signature by its positioned edge at such transfer point and pullit away from the drum wtih successively upward, frontward and downwardtravel and to release the same before final discharge.

8. A gathering machine .as in claim 7 and wherein the drum is ofrelatively large size with plural gripper means to carry a plurality ofsuccessive signatures on each turn, while the cylinder is relativelysmall with gripper means to transfer a single signature on each turn;and the cylinder is positioned adjacently afront the drum with its axissubstantially at the drum axis level and well above the drum low point,whereby the cylinder discharge is at a relatively high levelsubstantially not lower than the drum axis.

9. In a signature gathering machine of the kind described and interposedbetween each of the series of signature supply stacks and the advancingconveyor which receives the accumulating signature groups, thesubcombination comprising: a continuously rotary drum having grippermeans and operable to carry each of a succession of extracted signaturesby its leading edge successively around under and frontwardly andupwardly and to release the same at a predetermined pausing positionwith its trailing edge at a front transfer point near the drum axislevel, means to register the released signature in such predeterminedpausing position, and in front of the drum a continuously rotarytransfer cylinder having gripper means and operable to engage eachpausing signature by its trailing edge at such transfer point and pullit away from the drum with successively upward, frontward and downwardtravel and to release the same before final discharge.

10. A gathering machine as in claim 7 and wherein the signatureregistering means associated with the carrier drum consists of a stoparranged to stop each signature by its leading edge after its release,and an idler device ensuring travel of the released signature to thestop.

11. A gathering machine as in claim 9 and wherein the signatureregistering means associated with the carrier drum comprises a positivestop arranged to arrest and register each signature by its leading edgeafter its release, thereby to position its trailing edge definitely atthe transfer point for engagement and reverse travel by the transfercylinder.

12. A gathering machine as in claim 9 and wherein the drum carries eachsignature upwardly with the leading edge well beyond the transfer point,and the transfer cylinder engages its lower edge and strips it from thedrum; both drum and cylinder rotating upwardly at their adjacent sidesnear the transfer point, with drive means turning them in oppositerotary directions for such purpose.

13. A signature gathering machine as in claim 9 and wherein is asignature flipping device operable upon each signature to flip itstrailing or transfer edge frontwardly from the drum to gripping positionupon the cylinder.

14. In a signature gathering machine and interposed between each of thesignature supply stacks and the advancing conveyor upon which areaccumulated signature groups, in combination, a continuously rotarycarrier drum having signature gripping means and operable to carry eachof a succession of extracted signatures around frontwardly and releasethe same at a predetermined pausing position with one edge at a fronttransfer point near the drum axis level, means to register the releasedsignature in such predetermined pausing position, and in front of thedrum a continuously rotary transfer cylinder having gripper means andoperable to engage each pausing signature by its positioned edge at suchtransfer point and pull it away from the drum with successively upward,frontward and downward travel and to release the same before finaldischarge, and operating intermediate the drum and cylinder a signatureedge swinging means or fly finger device with timed means for operatingit to flip the positioned edge of each signature across from the drum tothe cylinder in position to be there gripped for transfer from the drumto discharge.

15. A signature gathering machine as in claim 14 and wherein the meansto flip the signature edge from drum to cylinder comprises a set of fiyfingers mounted on a fulcrum adjacent to the drum, and the means foroperating the same comprises a rotary cam turning with the drum.

16. In a signature gathering machine and interposed between each of theseries of signature supply stacks and the advancing conveyor upon whichare accumulated the signature groups, the subcombination comprising: acontinuously rotary carrier drum having signature gripper means andoperable to carry each of a succession of extracted signatures aroundfrontwardly and there while disposed around the upper portion of thedrum circumference to release the same at a predetermined pausingposition with an edge at a front transfer point near the drum axislevel, means to register the released signature in such predeterminedpausing position, and in front of the drum a continuously rotarytransfer cylinder having gripper means and operable to grip each pausingsignature by its positioned edge at such transfer point and pull it awayfrom the drum with successively upward, frontward and downward traveland to release the same before final discharge; said transfer cylinderbeing recessed for its gripper means and said gripper means comprising aseat and a jaw arranged within such recess without protrusion beyond thecylinder periphery, said seat being substantially radial or at a rightangle to the cylinder periphery and facing upwardly as it rises inpassing the transfer point, and said jaw being mounted for closingmovement relatively downwardly toward the seat; whereby the seat inrising enters between the positioned lower edge of the signature and thedrum before the closing of the jaw thereon.

17. A signature gathering machine a in claim 16 and wherein the cylinderjaw is swingingly mounted at a point inwards of the seat so that itextends radially when closed upon the seat.

18. A signature gathering machine as in claim 16 and wherein by therotation of the cylinder the gripper'seat rises behind the signatureedge between the pausing signature and drum, followed by the closing ofthe jaw upon the seat and the upward and frontward transfer of signaturefrom the drum toward discharge.

19. A signature gathering machine as in claim 16 and wherein is asignature flipping device operable upon each pausing signature to swinits transfer edge frontwardly from the drum, timed to position such edgefor the rising rotation of the cylinder seat behind the signature edge,followed by the closing of the jaw to grip such edge for transfer of thesignature from drum to discharge.

20. In an insert gathering machine, and interposed between each of thelap signature supply stacks and the advancing conveyor saddle upon whichare accumulated the signature groups, the subcombination comprising: acontinuously rotary carrier drum having means operable to carry each ofthe succession of extracted signatures with its openable edge trailingaround under, frontwardly and upwardly successively to release the sameat a predetermined pausing position with its openable edge at a fronttransfer point near the drum axis level, means to register the releasedsignature in such predetermined pausing position, and afront the drum atransfer cylinder, continuously rotary in the opposite direction to thatof the drum, said transfer cylinder having gripper means operable ineach cycle to grip the pausing signature by its openable edge at suchtransfer point and pull it away from the drum with successively upward,frontward and downward travel and to release the same before finaldischarge; said gripper means comprisin a seat and main and lap gripperscooperable therewith arranged for the main gripper to grip the entirethickness of the signature but the lap gripper only the lap halfthereof, operating means to cause both grippers to grip the signaturefor stripping it from the drum and therebeyond to open the main gripperto release the non-lap half for the opening of the signature andtherebeyond to open the lap gripper for complete release and dischargeof the signature, and an opening device afront the transfer cylinderadapted in each cycle to engage the non-lap half released by the maingripper and swing it frontwardly away from the gripped lap half, andtherebeyond to release such non-lap half for descent astride theconveyor saddle of the completely released and opened signature.

21. An insert gathering machine as in claim 20 and wherein the drum hasgripper means for gripping the closed leading edge of each lap signaturesuccessively to carry the signature around under, frontwardly andupwardly to pause when released with its trailing openable edge at thefront transfer point in preparation for gripping and reverse travel uponthe transfer cylinder; and wherein intermediate the drum and cylinder isa timed means to flip each pausing signature openable edge across fromdrum to cylinder for engagement by the cylinder grippers.

22. An insert gathering machine as in claim 20 and wherein the cylindergripper seat is substantially radial and faces in the direction ofrotation and the gripper jaws are mounted to swing to the seat atsubstantially rightangles, whereby the seat rises behind the trailingedge of each signature before the closing of the jaws.

23. An insert gathering machine as in claim 20 and wherein the cylindergripper seat is substantially radial and faces in the direction ofrotation and the gripper jaws are mouned to swing to the seat atsubstantially right angles, whereby the signature edge is bent atsubstantially a right angle with travel beyond the transfer pointthereby readily to spring back and assist opening when the main gripperis opened to release the non-lap half of the signature.

24. In a lap signature saddle gathering machine and interposed betweeneach of the series of signature supply stacks and the advancing saddleupon which are accumulated the signature groups, the subcombinationcomprising: a continuously rotary carrier drum having signature grippermeans and operable to carry each of a succession of lap signaturesaround frontwardly and there while disposed around the upper portion ofthe drum circumference to release the same at a predetermined pausingposition with its openable edge at a front transfer point near the drumaxis level, and afront the drum a continuously rotary transfer cylinderhaving gripper means and operable in each rotation or cycle to grip apausing signature by its positioned openable edge at such transfer pointand pull it away from the drum with successively upward, front- Ward anddownward travel and with openable edge leading and to release the samebefore final discharge; said gripper means comprising a seat and mainand lap grippers operable therewith without protrusion beyond thecylinder periphery, said seat bein substantially radial on the cylinderand facing upwardly as it rises in passing the transfer point and saidgrippers being mounted for closing movements substantially at a rightangle to said seat and to the signature edge thereon, the main gripperbeing relatively long to grip the entire thickness of the signature on Ithe seat while the lap gripper is relatively short her with gripper,arranged afront the transfer cylinder and operable in each cycle, firstto engage the non-lap half of the signature when released by the maincylinder gripper and swing it frontwardly from the lap half and, second,therebeyond to release such non-lap half for the final release anddownward discharge of the opened signature.

25. A saddle gathering machine as in claim 24 and wherein is a timedmeans operabl between the drum and cylinder to flip each pausingsignature openable edge across from drum to cylinder whereby thecylinder seat may rise beneath such edge to take part in the grippingthereof and upward, frontward and downward transfer of the signature.

26. In an insert signature gatherer a continuously rotary carrying drumfor lap signatures and closely adjacent in front thereof a paralleltransfer cylinder; the drum being adapted to release each signature at apredetermined si nature pausing position and having means to registerthe released signature in such predetermined pausing position, with itsopenable edge at a transfer point afront the drum, and the cylinderhaving gripping means consisting of main and lap grippers and seatadapted to engage and grip each pausing signature by its openable edgeand transfer it around for opening and discharge; said cylinder havingmeans to rotate it in a direction to pull the signature from the drumsuccessively upwardly and thence over and around frontwardly anddownwardly toward a front discharge point; said seat being substantiallyradial to the cylinder and facing in the direction of rotation andthereby adapted to enter the space between signature and drum; saidgrippers being mounted swingably on the cylinder at a pivot pointinwards of the seat and adapted respectively to grip against the seatthe entire thickness of signature and the lap half only thereof, withoutsubstantial protrusion beyond the cylinder periphery; and actuatingmeans for said cylinder grippers timed, first, to grip the openable edgeof the pausing signature upon said seat, second, therebeyond to open themain gripper and thereby release the non-lap half for the opening of thesignature while the lap half remains gripped by the lap gripper, andthird, therebeyond to open the lap gripper for final release of theopened signature.

27. An insert gatherer as in claim 26 and wherein the two cylindergrippers are mounted to swing about the same pivot, radially inwards ofthe seat, the main gripper being longer than the lap gripper thereby toreach and grip both halves upon the seat while the lap gripper grips onlthe extreme edge or lap half of the signature.

28. An insert gatherer as in claim 26 and wherein the gripper actuatingmeans comprises a cam and follower operated in time with the cylinderrotation the cam being of contour first to open the main gripper torelease the non-lap half of the signature, and therebeyond through alost-motion device to open the lap gripper to release the lap half ofthe signature.

29. An insert gatherer as in claim 26 and wherein the gripper actuatingmeans comprises a cam and follower operated in time with the cylinderrotation the cam being of contour first to open the main gripper torelease the non-lap half of the signature, and therebeyond through alost-motion device to open the lap gripper to release the lap half ofthe signature; with a strong spring opposing the cam and acting to closeboth grippers and a light spring acting to close the lap gripper whenthe main gripper is open.

PAUL E. KLEINEBERG.

